The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins power play has
been one of the most potent in the American Hockey
League this season, thanks in large part to the presence
of Erik Christensen.
Through the team’s first 16 games, the Pens
had netted 26 goals on the man advantage, with seven
of those coming off of Christensen’s stick.
So you would expect head coach Todd Richards to be
a little concerned when his leading scorer and power
play specialist was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins
just hours before game time.
But any fears of a drop off were put away early Wednesday
night, as the Pens posted three power play goals in
the first 12 minutes of play and coasted to a 6-0
win against the Albany River Rats.
“He’s such a critical player on our power
play, but with the talent that we have with the rest
of the guys, they can fill in easily,” said
Jonathan Filewich, who picked up one of the Penguins’
four power play goals on the night. “We have
so many talented forwards on this team, and everyone
can step in and produce. The guys wanted to be out
there, they want to step into Christensen’s
role obviously. People stepped up.”
Among those taking advantage of Christensen’s
absence was Micki DuPont, who picked up his third
goal of the season in the first period and assisted
on two others.
DuPont’s goal was the first of two the Penguins
netted during a five minute power play given when
Keith Aucoin, Albany’s leading scorer, was sent
off for boarding Wade Skolney.
“We got two goals on that five minutes…that
made it 3-0. From there we just kept our foot on the
gas pedal and kept going,” said DuPont, who
was named the game’s number one star. “If
they kill it off and we don’t score, it’s
a big momentum shift for them. But if we get one or
two or three goals, it’s a big momentum shift
for us.”
Aucoin was also handed a game misconduct for his
part, and Skolney did not return to the game after
the brutal hit.
Marc-Antoine Pouliot opened the scoring for the Penguins,
burying a pretty pass from Tyler Kennedy behind netminder
Justin Peters for his sixth goal of the season.
DuPont followed with a gritty goal from the top of
the Albany crease, and Alexei Mikhnov scored his first
goal in the AHL with an easy tap in late on the major
penalty.
The Pens limited the opposition to just two shots
on goal during the first period, while peppering Peters
and Tyler Weiman, who relieved Peters briefly, with
16 shots.
